During the past five years, 180 Turning Lives Around has provided safe shelter for more than 400 adult victims of domestic and sexual abuse and 500 children, but the nonprofit has had to turn away just as many individuals.
To meet the growing need for safe shelter, the nonprofit organization recently broke ground on a new safe house for domestic abuse victims. The location of the safe house is not being made public.
“Today marks a milestone for our organization and victim services throughout the state,” Anna Diaz-White, executive director of 180, said at the ceremonial groundbreaking on March 3.
The new facility will be the largest safe house for victims of domestic violence in New Jersey, according to Diaz-White.
For nearly 40 years, the Hazlet-based nonprofit has assisted victims of domestic and sexual violence and child abuse in Monmouth County through hotlines, shelters, counseling, court assistance, therapies, transitional housing and more.
“180’s work would not be possible if it were not for the outstanding staff and volunteers who are on the front lines serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse each and every day,” Diaz-White said at the event, which was held at New Jersey Natural Gas headquar- ters in Wall Township. At the groundbreaking, 180 Turning Lives Around launched a $7.65 million capital campaign to build the new facility in Monmouth County — the location is confidential — and Diaz-White said more than 75 percent of the campaign goal has already been raised.
“We hope to raise the balance in the coming year with help from the community at large,” she said.
In a March 6 interview, Diaz-White said having to turn away so many people in need of help has been a significant concern for the nonprofit’s board.
“It has been a five-year court battle to build this shelter, mainly just because of where the new shelter will be, but during that time — to the extent possible — we have always tried to refer those who need assistance to other organizations and shelters in neighboring areas,” she said. “Many of these individuals we know have been able to receive help at other shelters, but many others we do not know what happened to. Our capital campaign was created in response to this terrible situation.”
She said the new facility, which is expected to be completed by year’s end, will increase living space to up to 45 beds and will feature 12 family bedroom suites, which will include communal kitchens, dining and living areas, private baths, counseling rooms, a resource room, creative arts studios and more. “The need for services for victims of domestic abuse is great. … Our new facility will double our capacity so we can meet the demand for emergency sheltering in Monmouth County,” Diaz-White said. “We can do better, we know we should be doing better, and we hope this new shelter will show the community they can be doing better, as well.”
At the groundbreaking, several organizations, including New Jersey Natural Gas, Verizon Wireless, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, and the Faith and James Knight Foundation presented the nonprofit with $100,000 donations toward the capital campaign.
“To be on the front line of any social issue is not easy, nor is it an easy road for a traumatized parent or child living in a home affected by domestic violence to rebuild their lives,” said Mimi Rice, executive director of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. “We hope the financial support to this project will encourage others to join the effort to bring about an end to domestic and sexual violence in our community.”
State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth), who is former advocate with the program, commended the nonprofit and its volunteers for their hard work and dedication.
“180 is definitely one of the shining stars in this county in terms of the work they do, and this [safe house] puts a positive light where there was none before. And those we were not able to help before, now we will be able to help,” Beck said.
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno applauded all the “heroes” in attendance at the groundbreaking — from the victims to the volunteers to all the organizations showing their support.
“It takes courage that is beyond words and that is what today is about,” Guadagno said. “And I don’t think we should ever forget what we are really doing here — and that is saving lives.”